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Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus,<\/strong><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Just because you work at a secular job doesn\u2019t mean God doesn\u2019t want to use you in building up the church.<\/p>\n \u201cGreet<\/span>\u201d is translated from aspadzomai<\/em><\/span>, which is made up of a<\/em><\/span>, denoting union and probably a form of spa\u014d<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201cto draw.\u201d Thus, aspadzomai<\/em> <\/span>means \u201cto enfold in the arms\u201d or as we would say, \u201cto hug.\u201d Just as it is today, a hug was a form of greeting, especially within the body of Christ.<\/p>\n The name \u201cPriscilla<\/span>\u201d literally means \u201clittle Prisca.\u201d It is like a person today named Bill being referred to as Billy.<\/p>\n \u201cFellow workers<\/span>\u201d is from sunergos<\/em><\/span>, which is made up of sun<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201ctogether\u201d and a form of ergon<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201cwork or labor.\u201d So, sunergos<\/em> <\/span>means \u201ca fellow laborer.\u201d<\/p>\n Paul met Priscilla and Aquila on his first trip to Corinth (see Acts chapter eighteen). Paul\u2019s commission from God was to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles but his occupation was that of a tent maker. In large cities in the Roman world, the various trades gathered together around the marketplace. Likewise, in the Synagogue the various trades sat together in \u201cguilds.\u201d Therefore, it is not unusual that Paul would have met a fellow tent-maker when he first arrived in Corinth. Because Paul and Aquila were both tent makers and both Jews who believed in Jesus Christ as the Messiah, Aquila and Priscilla apparently asked Paul to live with them when he first came to town.<\/p>\n And he found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla (because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart from Rome); and he came to them. So, because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them and worked; for by occupation they were tentmakers. <\/span>(Acts 18:2-3<\/strong><\/span>)<\/p>\n From this passage in Acts, we also learn that Aquila and Priscilla originally lived in Rome, but they had to leave when Emperor Claudius kicked all the Jews out of Rome. At the time of the writing of this letter, Paul was again in Corinth, but by this time Aquila and Priscilla had moved back to Rome.<\/p>\n Paul remained in Corinth for about a year and a half, then he sailed for Syria, and Priscilla and Aquila sailed with him. On their way to Syria, however, they stopped in Ephesus where Priscilla and Aquila stayed behind.<\/p>\n So Paul still remained a good while. Then he took leave of the brethren and sailed for Syria, and Priscilla and Aquila<\/span> were<\/em> <\/span>with him\u2026 And he came to Ephesus, and left them there\u2026 <\/span>(Acts 18:18-19<\/strong><\/span>)<\/p>\n It is quite likely that Paul worked side-by-side with Aquila making tents, but Priscilla was likely more involved in helping Paul in his preaching ministry. That is probably why in both Romans 16:3<\/strong><\/span> and 2Timothy 4:19<\/strong><\/span>, when Paul mentions this couple he refers to Priscilla first.<\/p>\n God may have called you to work full-time in a Christian organization. Even if He didn\u2019t, though, you can have a significant impact in building the body of Christ. If you are not serving God in a local church, you may be missing out on one of the greatest blessings God could bestow on you.<\/p>\n In God\u2019s service, for His glory,<\/strong><\/p>\nTruth to Learn<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Behind the Words<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Meaning Explained<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Application<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
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